Minister for Arts Catherine Martin is looking for Cabinet backing for the go-ahead for indoor events for vaccinated people and the reopening of indoor arts, drama and dance classes in September.
She is set to meet with live events industry representatives on Wednesday. The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) will also be meeting on that day, ahead of issuing advice to Government on the next phase of easing restrictions.
The Cabinet Covid-19 sub-committee will discuss Nphet’s recommendations in a meeting on Friday. The Government has promised a pathway to the lifting of all restricitons by the end of the month. Arts and entertainment figures have criticised the Government about ongoing restrictions in their industry compared to the decision to allow 40,000 people to attend Sunday’s All-Ireland hurling final.
However, there is still “great reluctance” in Government to reopen live entertainment as Covid numbers increase with the government focusing on the return of schools and colleges as a priority. It is believed that a number of pilot live events will go ahead in September, these events will include a series of music and comedy events at Pearse Stadium in Galway, as part of Galway Arts Week.